Source : the age
A backflipping Reece Walsh has helped put Australia within touching distance of their fourth-straight World Cup crown as the Kangaroos dismantled Samoa 44-12 in their semi-final.
In their most complete performance of the tournament to date, Kevin Walters’ outfit put an ill-disciplined Samoan side to the sword, running in eight tries at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on Sunday night.
Led by fullback Walsh, who scored a hat-trick, the Kangaroos rarely looked troubled.
Australia will face New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane in next Sunday’s final as they look to extend their stranglehold on the World Cup that stretches back to 2013.
As fluent as Australia were, Samoa were all at sea in one of their most underwhelming showings since their surprise run to the 2022 final.
With a side stacked with NRL talent and a groundswell of support from their diaspora community, Samoa have a realistic hope of breaking international rugby league’s glass ceiling in the years to come.
But on Sunday they made nine errors and gave up 12 set restarts or penalties, while prop Spencer Leniu was sin-binned for dissent late in a disastrous first half.
After a lively pre-game siva tau where they came face to face with the Kangaroos, Samoa were first on the board when Stephen Crichton kicked a fourth minute penalty.
But it was all one-way traffic from then on as Australia asserted their dominance, starting when Tom Dearden scythed through some feeble defence off a scrum play to put the home side on the board.
Jacob Preston pinballed his way over from close range before Tom Trbojevic, Walsh and Bradman Best all crossed to push the Kangaroos out to a 26-2 halftime lead.
Walsh – chosen ahead of James Tedesco for the starting No. 1 spot – celebrated his try with a backflip.
But he was left red-faced soon after halftime when he leapt to claim a Samoa bomb, which Crichton scooped up to score.
The Brisbane fullback soon made amends by slaloming his way through the Samoan defence and palming off Brian To’o to add his second.
Izack Tago barged his way over as Samoa showed something of a fightback.
But again, Walsh was the man in the right place at the right time.
The fullback backed up a Cameron Munster break to add his third before having a hand in Australia’s final try to winger Jack Bostock.
AAP
Reece Walsh. The 24-year-old is on top of this rugby league world, isn’t he? Three tries. He just dazzles. Hairs stand up when he’s got the ball. Tonight Samoa’s defence stood off him, and the Queensland and Australian fullback took full advantage of it.
On his first-half try celebration, Walsh says Kevin Walters might have had a quiet word to turn it down a notch.
“I got in trouble at half time,” he quipped during his on-field interview after being named player of the match, “but there was a bunch of kids, like all week at our hotel every morning. And every every time I seen them, they keep going, ‘can you do a backflip, can you do a backflip?’ I was like, oh, might as well put on a show for the kids.” Bravo.
That’s it! It’s all over. Australia have smashed Samoa 44-12 and are into another final, where they will meet New Zealand. It’ll be the first time the trans-Tasman neighbours have met since 2013, where the Kangaroos smashed the Kiwis 34-12. The Kiwis, of course, beat the Kangaroos 34-20 on Australian soil in 2008.
It was the Reece Walsh show tonight. The fullback scored a hat-trick. Kevin Walters’ decision to back the fullback has once again been vindicated.
Will it be Walsh vs Kayln Ponga next week? It would seem it, with the New Zealand fullback poised to return after breaking his arm in the tournament opener last month.
They’re in again. This time it’s the winger Jack Bostock. The Kangaroos flyer gets on the scoresheet, diving over just inside the touchline. Munster bangs over the extra two points.
Australia 44, Samoa 12 – 73rd minute
The Samoan faithful aren’t happy. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has been denied a try by the bunker, who claimed that Francis Manuleleua took Liam Martin out in defence from a decoy run. If there was contact, it was marginal. But it’s no try.
Australia 38, Samoa 12 – 70th minute
It’s Reece Walsh, it’s a hat-trick.
Lovely from Cameron Munster and Reece scores next to the sticks. It was his quick hands that put Trbojevic in some space out wide. The big winger kept it alive and Samoa was at sixes and sevens. Great from Munster to pin the ears back, run straight and find space. That’ll be the game too.
Australia 38, Samoa 12 – 67th minute
Izack Tago scores! Or does he?
He looked to have scored for all-money but he’s taken an age to get the ball down as the feet slide close to the sideline. Eventually, the try is confirmed. Crichton from out wide misses.
Australia 32, Samoa 12 – 63rd minute
Samoa will have another set of six on Australia’s line after Tom Trbojevic knocked on out wide as he tried to shut down the opposition’s attacking raid. They’re finally starting to throw some punches Samoa.
There’s 20 minutes left.
Australia 32, Samoa 8
The crowd has just been announced, there’s 41529 in tonight. It’s a good showing considering there was some rain about earlier.
Oh dear oh dear. Straight after scoring, Samoa cough up possession immediately. They’ve dropped it 20 metres from their own line. So here’s a golden opportunity for Australia to strike back.
They’re over. Reece Walsh. Fourth tackle, Harry Grant goes for a little dart and brings Walsh into the game and he’s over again. That’s his second try. The arms go out. He’s the ultimate showstopper. Cameron Munster converts the try.
Australia 32, Samoa 8 – 48th minute
